how to guides
Everything you need to know about cutting your own hair
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We all know that hairdressing salons are currently closed due to the coronavirus crisis, with no opening date in sight.
So, what can you do if your fringe is too long or split ends are spreading like wildfire?
Should you try and cut your own hair?
Read on to find out whether you should – or leave it to the professionals!
Can I cut my hair myself?
It's not always a good idea, because you risk not only having a bad cut, but in the worst case scenario, damaging your hair, too.
If you want a PERFECT cut, wait until the hairdressers are open again.
This particularly applies if you want a radical change, such as a shorter style or a new colour.
If it’s just to trim a fringe or tidy up split ends however, this can easily be done at home.
What do I need to cut hair at home?
Using unsuitable scissors is the biggest mistake you can make, especially if they're blunt, as they can really damage hair as the ends will not be cut cleanly, but virtually torn off.
The result: split ends and broken, dull-looking hair.
This is the must-have kit you need:
Hairdressing scissor – see more details here at Amazon.
Hairdresser comb – see more details here at Amazon.
Mirror with handles – see more details here at Amazon.
Towel (to protect clothes) - see more details here at Amazon.
If you have long hair and little cutting experience you should NOT attempt to cut the back of your hair –
ask a second person with a steady hand to help!
Lastly, make sure you have good light, otherwise your DIY hair cut could end in disaster!
Should your hair be wet or dry?
Dry cutting is recommended at home.
Why? When hair is dry, it's easier for beginners to see how it needs to be cut because it falls more naturally.
Wet, combed hair is longer, especially if your hair is wavy or curly and the difference in length between dry and wet is even more pronounced.
The best time to cut your hair is a few hours after you've washed it and it's important not to use styling products such as mousse or hairspray beforehand.
Can I trim my fringe?
If you have a fringe, it needs to be trimmed regularly.
Many people who have a fringe already do this at home, which is fine.
Anyone who currently has no fringe and is thinking about cutting one themselves should quickly dismiss this idea!
This type of re-style is best left to the professionals.
Here's our step-by-step guide to trimming your fringe:
1. Comb your fringe until smooth
Before using scissors, you should comb your fringe so it's as smooth as possible. This way you can also see how much hair you need to cut off.
2. Tie the rest of your hair back
Separate the fringe from the rest of your hair and tie it back cleanly.
3. Work out how much to cut off
To avoid cutting too much, you should shake your fringe lightly with your fingers so that the hair falls naturally.
Now hold the fringe loosely between your index finger and middle finger and hold it up.
So you can see how much needs to come off, it's important that you put your fingers where you're actually going to make the cut.
4. The big snip
Now comes the most difficult part!
Hold the scissors vertically to your fringe and trim off a few millimetres at a time.
Take a look in the mirror in between each snip so that you don't cut off too much.
5. Brush off
You can use a powder brush to remove the fallen hair from your face, neck and chest.
6. Look in the mirror
Now comes the moment of truth – look at the end result in the mirror. If you've missed a bit, you can simply snip it off.
How to remove split ends
Even if some shampoo advertisements promise otherwise – split ends cannot be repaired.
Only cutting them off gets rid of them!
Professionals recommend trimming the ends every three months.
So, how can you do it at home?
The Twist Cut
Do this method on dry hair only.
1. Comb your hair throughly and pull out a strand about one cm wide and clip the rest back. Start on one side of your parting.
2. Twist this strand of hair tightly from top to bottom – this will cause any split ends to stick out.
3. Snip along the twisted strand from top to bottom and carefully cut off any protruding split ends.
4. Now take the next strand and twist and cut as above. Ask another person to help you with sections at the back.
Use a split ends trimmer
Another faster method is to use a special split end trimmer, such as the Split-ender Pro.
This clever device cuts split ends without shortening the length of your hair.
Hair is pulled through carefully combed hair like a straightening iron, strand by strand. The protruding, split ends of the hair are then cut off.
It's easier than the twist cut method but it costs a little more! See more details here at Amazon.
Cutting a bob
A bob is one of the most popular hairstyles for women, but avoid trying to cut one yourself!
As simple as it may look, the gentle gradations in the hair length from front to back make it a tricky hairstyle that needs professional handling!
If you already have a bob and just want to remove the split ends, simply follow the instructions above.
Cutting short hair styles
If you think that it's easier to cut short hair, you‘re wrong!
A short haircut is much less forgiving than long hair as any mistakes are much more visible.
If you want the perfect short hairstyle, you should wait for the hairdressers to open again.
If you can't or don't want to wait, limit yourself to only minor improvements.
One of the things you can do at home is gently trimming the sides or shaving the neck.
Cutting men's hair
Short hairstyles, whether for men or women, always have very neat lines.
If hair becomes too long and starts to grow over ears or down the neck, it can start to look a bit neglected, so use a hair trimmer or clipper to neaten the edges.
We like this model by Braun. See more details at Amazon.
You can adjust the hair trimmer to the appropriate hair length so that the result is even and use a comb over the ears for a cleaner cutting edge.
It's easy to get carried away using a hair trimmer or clipper, so start on a longer length setting and gradually trim until you get to the desired length.
Browse our round-up of the best home hairdressing buys, here.
Read on:
- The beauty buys you need to do salon treatments at home
- How to do a pedicure at home
- The best home hair dye kits
